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Bhandari, Kalpana, "Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Wrestlers at a private University in the Southern United States" (2008). Senior Honors Theses. 26.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/26

Abstract

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing threat among athletes. With the discovery of antibiotics, many people believed the problems associated with infectious diseases ended, but a new problem of antibiotic resistance has emerged. Mutated forms of bacteria soon developed resistance to antibiotics. A methicillin resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus referred to as MRSA was first seen in hospitals and is now considered a major source of nosocomial infection. For a number of years non-hospital associated or Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) has been seen among individuals living in crowded settings. Athletes, including wrestlers, have been particularly prone to these infections because of frequent close contact. Researchers presumed that wrestlers’ behavior is responsible for most transmission and spread of MRSA. The relationship between wrestlers’ lifestyle and transmission of MRSA infection was studied at a private Christian University in the Southeastern United States. Twenty-eight wrestlers were given a brief researcher-developed descriptive survey including demographic, quantitative, and open-ended qualitative questions. The resulting data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results of this study showed that the majority of wrestlers lack the basic knowledge on personal hygiene and ways to protect themselves from MRSA.